The Stars, Not Planets, Rule Summer Nights

Skylights

June 30, 2002|By DAVID C. MANESS Columnist

During the summer months, the days are long and the nights short.

At the beginning of July, the sun sets around 8:30 p.m. By the end of the month sunset is 16 minutes earlier. Late in the evening, the bright stars of summer appear. They may not be as bright as those of winter but are just as interesting.

It's a good time to view some of my favorite summer constellations. Locate the three bright stars of the Summer Triangle in the northeast. Brightest is Vega in Lyra the harp, the instrument used by Orpheus to sway the ruler of the underworld to release his wife. To the lower left is Deneb the tail of Cygnus the swan, who flies along the Milky Way heading toward the south. To the right is Altair, the eye of Aquila the eagle, a favorite of Zeus.

Following the Milky Way to the south, the number of medium bright stars increases. We are looking toward the center of our galaxy here.

On the left is the familiar "teapot" shape formed by the brightest stars of Sagittarius. The handle is on the left and the spout faces right.

This is the centaur who avenged his friend Orion's death, by shooting the scorpion that stung him.

To the right is a letter "J" shape of the tail of that very Scorpion, Scorpius. Sagittarius and Scorpius reach their highest point in the south around 10 p.m. this month.

Scanning the area with binoculars or telescope will reveal a great number of star clusters and clouds of expanding or condensing gas and dust called nebulae.

After a great showing in the evening sky late this spring, the planets are hard to find these days. Mercury pops up in the morning sky early in the period.

This is the last chance to view the speedy planet until October. Find it very close to Saturn on Tuesday.

At that time, it will be very low in the east northeast. After this, Mercury moves back into line with the sun and afterward stays close to or below the horizon.

Venus is slowly sinking into the glare of the sun. It sets only two hours after the sun at the beginning of July. On July 10, Venus will be just 1.1 degrees North of the Regulus in Leo the lion. While Venus is low for us, people in the southern hemisphere are having a spectacular view.

The only time to view the red planet this month is during the daylight hours. Yes, planets can be seen in the day time, but you need to use a telescope and have a good knowledge of aiming it, so as not to risk scanning across the sun.

Permanent vision damage can result from doing that. Diligent and careful effort is needed to observe Mars close by Jupiter during the daytime on Tuesday and Wednesday. Essentially, Mars is not visible for the rest of the period.

Jupiter begins the period in conjunction with the sun on July 20. Next month it emerges from the glare of sunlight in the morning sky.

By the end of August, it can be seen about 10 degrees above the east northeastern horizon at the beginning of twilight.

As stated above, Jupiter meets up with Mars on Wednesday.

Saturn comes out of the sun's glare this month. Look for it to rise in the east northeast.

One month later, the ringed planet rises shortly after midnight and stands at least 25 degrees above the horizon as the twilight glow begins.